Gracie Wilkerson isn’t just another certified dog trainer; she’s the head dog trainer and the non-profit Ron and Vicki Santo Diabetic Alert Dog Foundation. And wow! The work she does to help others is in some cases, literally life-saving, as she explains on the national Steve Dale’s Pet World show. Parents do sleep way better knowing there is a dog  sleeping right beside their child. Wilkerson explains he way which the dogs are trained, and it’s fascinating. Training a dog will cost $15,00 to $20,000 and that is why your contribution – of any amount – can make a BIG difference. The post ..read more

Vicki Santo of the Ron and Vicki Santo Diabetic Alert Dog Foundation says HERE on WGN Radio Steve Dale’s Pet World  what this non-profit is all about. Ron would, of course, be proud that this non-profit providing diabetic alert dogs to mostly children has changed so many lives, and even saved some lives. Vicki explains how and why the organization began and how an Australian Shepherd named Joker once – who Ron thought he wasn’t bonded to –  saved Ron’s life, and what Steve Dale’s role in this was. It turns out Joker was so very attached to Ron. Here’s the mission of this non-profit ..read more

Holly Agra of the Mercury Skyline Cruiseline talks about the Canine Cruise, HERE on WGN Radio Steve Dale’s Pet World, which began as a result of a conversation 15 years ago with myself on WGN Radio. It’s a novel dog-friendly cruise, kind of an architecture cruise for dogs, showing off the parks with the most squirrels and oldest fire hydrant. So many people live nearby where Mercury Skyline is (Michigan Avenue at Wacker Drive, Southwest corner), and also more people travel with dogs than ever before. Of course, people travel into the city or from neighborhoods around the city for the Cani ..read more

The truth is that U.S. Military Working Dogs (MWD) have saved more human lives in all conflicts/wars since World War II compared to human lives saved by humans. Chris Willingham, president of U.S. War Dogs Association explains HERE on Steve Dale’s Pet World, WGN Radio that this amazing non-profit sends care packages to currently working military dogs but there’s a special focus on retired MWD, who ultimately do require veterinary care which they support. Right now, the non-profit is covered about 1,200 dogs in retirement. Willingham, a retired Maine, says his own life was saved by his canine ..read more

Here’s the content of what I said to Cook County Commissioners, honored to speak to celebrate Pet Partners National Therapy Animal Day, Sunday April 30: Hazel and Robin at work “My name is Steve Dale. I am a certified animal behavior consultant, long time host at WGN Radio; I speak at veterinary meetings worldwide and author books about pets. We have also happened to have therapy dogs in our home over the years. I was a Pet Partners Science Advisory Board Member for several years. Pet Partners is a non-profit that certifies therapy animals and sets the bar for all others. Over the years, we ..read more

Let’s celebrate a canine Labor Day – you won’t believe some of the unusual jobs dogs can do or are being trained to do: Darlene Arden 1.Before her death, journalist and pet book author Darlene Arden set up the Ovarian Cancer Symptom Awareness Darlene Arden Veterinary Outreach Program to support funds to teach dogs to sniff for ovarian cancer. Contributions continue to further transformational research as dogs are now being successfully trained at Penn Vet Working Dog Center to sniff for this cancer, and in the early stages of the disease! This is huge, and ..read more

Phil Arkow On Steve Dale’s Pet World, I talk HERE on WGN Radio with Phil Arkow is a co-founder of the National Link Coalition. The Link is a term he helped to coin many years ago, to describe the Link between animal abuse and violence to humans, which ranges from domestic violence to child or elder abuse to mass shootings – even terrorists – and more. The psychology and Law enforcement professions greatly know about this Link but public officials are only catching on. This is a bi-partisan red flag which bills like the Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act can do something about.Another piece ..read more

Memorial Day is more than about a day off work and heading to a park for a picnic. It’s about remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country. Currently, according to the American Humane Association, over 2,300 dogs serve our country overseas in various roles, and many more do the same at military bases here. In 2003, Master Sergeant James Kohlrenken, then superintendent of operations for the 341st Training Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Lackland, TX told me that also mutual trust and the canine instinct define good working dogs. He said, “These dogs have a ..read more

Dr. Magie O’Haire Listen HERE to my debut Steve Dale Petcast. I am incredibly grateful to Merrick Pet Care and WGN Radio for the opportunity to talk renown experts to make a difference in our pets’ daily lives, and to help us to better understand them so they can better understand us. So, it’s fitting that my first effort is a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Maggie O’Haire, associate professor Human Animal Interaction Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. There is a bond with dogs, of course. But also, even with zoo animals Proof positive of the increasing bond is ..read more

Iraq War veteran Kevin Patrick has been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder syndrome, and talks about his service dogs, and explains what his dog, Willow, does for him on the national Steve Dale’s Pet World radio show. Sometimes because it doesn’t look like anything wrong with Patrick, he still gets push back. Patrick service dog has training via V.E.T Service Dogs NFP. Accurately enough, he calls Willow a medical alert dog. V.E.T. Service Dogs NFP is a non-profit organization, helping provide veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual ..read more